Changing photo-written Bragg wavelengths of fiber gratings via one phase mask and four mirrors

A phase mask interferometer is developed to photo-write long gratings with arbitrary Bragg wavelengths. In this system, the fiber Bragg grating is photo-written by UV interference stripes of 193 nm reflected from two rotatable mirrors and two fixed mirrors, where the phase mask is not only used as a beam splitter, but also initialized the reference quantity of Bragg wavelength; the fixed mirrors are used for reducing the incident angle; the rotatable mirrors are used for adjusting the corresponding photo-written Bragg wavelength. It is worth noting that the photo-written length is fourfold as high as the length in the Talbot interferometer with the same mirror size.     

Non-minimum phase reconstruction from amplitude data in fiber Bragg gratings using an adaptive simulated annealing algorithm

Adaptive simulated annealing algorithm used for phase reconstruction in fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is presented. Theory and numerical simulations show that the non-minimum phase of the FBG can be reconstructed by using this method.     

Novel flat multichannel filter based on fiber Bragg grating and phase shift

In this letter, a novel optical fiber filter based on fiber Bragg grating and phase shift is proposed for wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) system applications. As the channel-space of the comb filter based on chirped sampled fiber Bragg grating and phase shift was not accurate and the multi-channel was unable to channel the standard frequency, we discussed and calculated the error between theory and practice which has certificated by simulation. Then a compensatory method with phase shift between the samples was proposed, and a 80-channel comb filter with accurate 50-GHz channel-spacing was simulated, which is a good foundation for fabricating comb filters with accurate transmission peak in future.     

Fibonacci quasi-periodic superstructure fiber Bragg gratings

Superstructure fiber Bragg gratings constructed following the Fibonacci sequence are proposed and simulated by using the transfer matrix method. The reflection spectrum has a multi-fractal structure as a function of the wavelength and is symmetric to the center. The reflectivity has self-similarity and scaling with respect to the Fibonacci sequence order at the central wavelength. For the transmission spectrum, the interaction of the core-cladding mode is investigated and the particular wavelengths for which the resonance condition is satisfied are located by varying the grating parameters. The potential application of the quasi-periodic structure as fiber sensors is also proposed.     

A novel method for fabricating apodized fiber Bragg gratings

In this paper, a new implementation of the double exposure method for fabricating apodized fiber Bragg gratings by controlling the parameters of rotation stage and the number of UV-shots is presented. As a result, the average refractive index is kept nearly constant along the Bragg grating, and various apodized fiber Bragg grating with high reflectivity and high side lobe suppression ratio have been fabricated in single-mode hydrogen-loaded photosensitive fiber . The achieved side-lobe suppression ratio is larger than 25 dB.     

Numerical analysis of apodized fiber Bragg gratings formation using phase mask with variable diffraction efficiency

Scalar diffraction theory is applied to analyze the intensity distribution in the fiber core during fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fabrication using an apodized phase mask. The averaged diffraction field distribution in fiber core was calculated as a function of optical fiber position. The results show that in a case of apodized FBGs fabrication, averaged field intensity profile, and thus refractive index changes in fiber core have complex form. Moreover, it was shown that the influence of optical fiber position behind the phase mask on average intensity distribution in fiber core decreases with increasing of its diameter.     

Apodised fiber Bragg gratings fabricated with a uniform phase mask using Gaussian beam laser

A new exposure scheme for fabricating apodised fiber Bragg gratings by the use of a uniform phase mask and a Gaussian beam laser is demonstrated. Average refractive index is kept nearly constant along the grating to derive a side lobe suppression of 20 dB in the shorter wavelength. This scheme allows the writing of truly apodized fiber Bragg gratings.     

Dynamic strain monitoring by wavelength locking between two fiber Bragg gratings fiber sensing system

We demonstrated a fiber sensing system using the method of wavelength locking of two identical fibers Bragg gratings (FBG) to interrogate the wavelength shift by directly measuring the intensity of the reflection from the sensing Bragg grating. The light source of the fiber sensing system is an EDFA fiber ring laser pumped by a 980 nm laser diode and a narrow bandwidth fiber Bragg grating for the filter of the ring laser resonator. The wavelength shift is converted to the intensity deviation of the reflection from the sensing FBG under strain variation, and is able to achieve real-time sensing of the dynamic strain sensing in civil engineering. The characteristics and key factors to maintain stability of the dynamic strain sensing system are discussed.     

Modeling and testing of static pressure within an optical fiber cable spool using distributed fiber Bragg gratings

Based on the force analysis, we establish a theoretical model to study the static pressure distribution of the fiber cable spool for the fiber optic guided missile (FOG-M). Simulations indicate that for each fiber layer in the fiber cable spool, the applied static pressure on it asymptotically converges as the number of fiber layers increases. Using the distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technique, the static pressure of fiber cable layers in the spool on the cable winding device was measured. Experiments show that the Bragg wavelength of FBG in every layer varies very quickly at the beginning and then becomes gently as the subsequent fiber cable was twisted onto the spool layer by layer. Theoretical simulations agree qualitatively with experimental results. This technology provides us a real-time method to monitor the pressure within the fiber cable layer during the cable winding process.     

Motion characteristics of Bragg grating solitons in rectangle-apodized fiber Bragg gratings

We introduce both concave and convex rectangular apodizations in the middle of fiber Bragg gratings to achieve slow light. Based on the nonlinear coupled mode equations (NLCMEs), the transmission characteristics of grating solitons in rectangle-apodized gratings are numerically simulated and analyzed. The rectangular apodization can change the grating coupling coefficient to give rise to slow and capture the solitons in gratings. The effects of the soliton energy parameters, the width of rectangular apodization and the variation of the coupling coefficient on the soliton transmission are presented. The results show that, the velocity of solitons can be slowed down, and the capability to capture a soliton depends on the energy of input solitons, coupling coefficient, and the rectangular width. Two kinds of soliton capture methods are proposed and compared with each other.     

C-band continuously tunable lasers using tunable fiber Bragg gratings

We report the development of a ring tunable fiber laser based on tunable fiber Bragg gratings (TFBG) integrated with an optical circulator. The TFBG is embedded inside a 3-piont bending device for wavelength tuning. The tunable laser operating in the C-band has power variation, tuning resolution, tuning range and laser line width of ±0.5 dB, 0.5 nm, 25.0 nm and less than 0.05 nm, respectively. As 40 mW of pump power is used, the ring tunable laser has a side mode suppression ratio of 60 dB and a power conversion efficiency of 25%. These specifications ensure the high-quality operation of a tunable laser.     

A phase-shifted linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating with tunable bandwidth

We demonstrate a new method to broaden and adjust the transmission bandwidth of a phase-shifted linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating (PS-LCFBG) after its fabrication. A movable thermal head is used to heat the PS-LCFBG at a small contact point. The original ultra-narrow transmission bandwidth of the PS-LCFBG can be broadened due to both the presence of the passband peak caused by the thermally-induced temporary phase shift and the passband caused by the thermally-induced local Bragg wavelength shift. The transmission bandwidth of the new passband peak can be adjusted by changing the position of the thermal head. The transmission bandwidth of the PS-LCFBG can be broadened from <10 pm to 0.16 nm, and can be tuned from 0.16 to 1.05 nm.     

Optimization of reflection spectra for phase-only sampled fiber Bragg gratings

In this paper, the reflection spectra of a phase-only sampled fiber Bragg grating is obtained by optimizing its phase profile. The standard simulated annealing method is improved for optimization, and superior phase profiles which contain as few segments as possible per sampling period are obtained for 8, 16 and 32 identical channels. As very well known, increased number of WDM channels results in higher grating length and refractive index modulation amplitude. It is observed that application of these phase profiles limits the increases in both of these parameters considerably.     

Accurate analysis for reflection-peak bandwidths of sampled fiber Bragg gratings without chirp based on multiple-phase-shift technique

Dense comb-like reflective spectrum is available for a sampled fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) by using multiple-phase-shift (MPS) technique. The expressions for the reflection-peak bandwidths of a uniform SFBG based on MPS technique are derived through Fourier transform of the index modulation. The new expressions can be used to accurately calculate the reflection-peak bandwidths as taking the parameters into account, such as the duty cycle and the “AC” index change. The simulation spectrum based on the transfer matrix method agrees well with the theoretical analysis.     

Image encryption and decryption using fractional Fourier transform and radial Hilbert transform

A technique for image encryption using fractional Fourier transform (FRT) and radial Hilbert transform (RHT) is proposed. The spatial frequency spectrum of the image to be encrypted is first segregated into two parts/channels using RHT, and image subtraction technique. Each of these channels is encrypted independently using double random phase encoding in the FRT domain. The different fractional orders and random phase masks used during the process of encryption and decryption are the keys to enhance the security of the proposed system. The algorithms to implement the proposed encryption and decryption scheme are discussed, and results of digital simulation are presented.     

Wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating

A novel wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and erbium–ytterbium co-doped fibers is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The strain-induced chirped FBG, which acts as a partial-reflecting mirror, is achieved by bending a uniform FBG bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. A single wavelength lasing with a maximum wavelength tuning range of 17 nm has been achieved experimentally.     

All optical self signal processing using chalcogenide nonlinear fiber Bragg grating

In this study, we simulate numerically quasi pulse propagation in a uniform nonlinear fiber Bragg grating (FBG) made of chalcogenide glasses. Because of bistability and nonlinearity behavior of FBG, the shapes of output pulse vary abruptly and strongly according to the input peak intensity. We take Gaussian pulse as input and produce saw-tooth wave and square wave in the output by suitable input amplitude and FBG length also we could reach pulse chopping and pulse compression. These all optical signal processing achieved for a few length, i.e. 6.6 mm and few intensity, i.e. 35 W/m² because of high nonlinearity of chalcogenide glasses.     

Effect of friction in ferrules on compression tuning characteristics of fiber Bragg gratings

The effect of friction in ferrules on compression tuning characteristics of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) was observed and analyzed in this paper. It was demonstrated that the micro-bending of the fiber in the ferrule would cause friction between fiber and inner wall of the ferrule, and the friction would make a non-uniform strain in the FBG and degradations of its reflection spectrum. To avoid the effect, some measures have been applied including reducing the ferrule diameter to fit the fiber, and filling some lubrication in the ferrule, and so on. Near 10 nm tuning range can be obtained with good spectral performance.     

Switchable multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber lasers by using cascaded fiber Bragg gratings written in high birefringence fiber

A novel and simple Erbium-doped fiber laser by using cascaded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) written in high-birefringence fibers for switchable multi-wavelength operation is proposed. Due to two-peak reflection with orthogonal polarizations of the FBG, the polarization hole-burning effect in the cavity is greatly enhanced. Experimental results show that the stable dual- and three-wavelength lasing operation with very narrow wavelength separation (0.39 nm) can be generated at room temperature. The configuration is simple and flexible. Only by adjusting polarization controllers (PCs), the laser can be switched among the stable single-, dual- and three-wavelength lasing operations.